Threshers takedown Tortugas in finale, 10-4

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - CF Allan Cerda and 3B Reyny Reyes each picked up two hits, including a home run, but it was not enough for Daytona on Sunday evening. Clearwater banged out eight extra-base knocks, as the Threshers defeated the Tortugas, 10-4, in front of 1,230 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Clearwater (16-14) utilized the long ball first. With two on courtesy of a C Juan Aparicio (1-5, R) single and a walk to LF Baron Radcliff (1-1, 4 R, HR, RBI, 4 BB), RF Ben Pelletier (3-5, 3 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) dug in. He lashed a deep drive over the batter’s eye in straightaway center for a three-run home run — his second of the year — to give the Threshers a 3-0 edge.

Daytona (13-17) responded with a blast of their own in the third. Leading off, Reyes (2-4, R, HR, RBI, 2 SO) golfed a 2-2 pitch on top of the batting cages in left for his first home run of the campaign, drawing the Tortugas within 3-1.

In the fourth, with the first to hitters aboard on a walk and a single, Threshers DH Freddy Francisco (1-5, 2B, RBI, SO) doubled home a tally, giving Clearwater its three-run lead back, 4-1. Two batters later, CF Johan Rojas (1-4, R, 2B, RBI, 2 SO) made it 5-1 when he lofted a sacrifice fly to center.

Both squads traded crooked numbers in the sixth, as Clearwater squeezed ahead 7-1 on a two-RBI double down the left-field line by SS Casey Martin (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, SO). The Tortugas responded promptly in the home half when 2B Steven Leyton (2-4, R, 2B, RBI, BB) walked and Cerda (2-5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) cranked a two-run home run — his team-leading fifth of the year — to left-center.

The visitors scratched across three more runs over the game’s final three frames. Radcliff snuck a solo long ball over the fence in right for his third homer of the campaign in the seventh, while 3B Nicolas Torres (2-3, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SO) uncorked a double in the ninth that drove home a pair.

Before the final out could be recorded, the Tortugas made one last valiant push. RF Danny Lantigua (1-4, R, 2B, 2 SO) doubled and crossed on a Leyton single, but LHP JP Woodward (1.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 2 SO) garnered the contests final out to wrap up the Threshers’ 10-4 win.

RHP Rodolfo Sánchez (3.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 2 SO) did not go deep enough into the contest to qualify for the win. LHP Jordi Martínez (3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) struck out six in relief for Clearwater, earning his second triumph of the season.

Daytona’s RHP Case Williams (3.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) whiffed four but was saddled with his second-consecutive defeat.

Following Monday’s league-wide off day, the Tortugas will hit the road to embark on a six-game road trip starting on Tuesday night against the Bradenton Marauders, the Low-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, at LECOM Park. Neither team has announced their rotation for the series yet. The first pitch for the series opener is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Coverage on the Tortugas Radio Network and www.daytonatortugas.com will begin with the Pregame Show starting at 5:50 p.m. ET.

Baseball returns to Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday, June 15, as the ‘Tugas will square off against the Palm Beach Cardinals, Low-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. It will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Radiology Associates Imaging, as Daytona players and coaches will don special pink-tinted uniforms to mark the occasion. Silver Sluggers Night — the best club in baseball for fans 60-and-over — presented by Conviva Cares Solutions will also be a part of the festivities. Fans can get in on deals at the concession stand with $2.50 Michelob Ultra draft beers.

Season tickets, multi-game plans, group packages, and single-game tickets are currently available and can be purchased online at www.daytonatortugas.com or by calling the Tortugas’ Ticket Office at (386) 257-3172.

ABOUT THE DAYTONA TORTUGAS
The Daytona Tortugas are the Low-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of Minor League Baseball’s Low-A Southeast. The Tortugas play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in downtown Daytona Beach. Jackie Robinson Ballpark also plays host to Bethune-Cookman University, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark Museum, and many community events and initiatives of all sizes throughout the year.